The Cascade Range produces some of the best white-water rafting in the country, and the Deschutes, White Salmon, Sandy, and Clackamas rivers all offer plenty of opportunities to shoot within an hour or two of Portland. The Sandy and the Clackamas are the two closest rivers.

Portland River Company, 0315 SW Montgomery St. (tel. 888/238-2059 or 503/229-0551; www.portlandrivercompany.com), offers day trips on the Deschutes and North Umpqua rivers ($75 per person) and 2- to 3-day trips on the Deschutes River ($260-$360 per person). Trips on the Sandy, Clackamas, North Santiam, and Hood rivers are offered by Blue Sky Whitewater Rafting (tel. 800/898-6398; www.blueskyrafting.com), which charges $30 to $35 for a half-day trip and $55 to $60 for a full-day trip. River Drifters (tel. 800/972-0430 or 800/226-1001; www.riverdrifters.net) offers trips on the Deschutes, White Salmon, Clackamas, Wind River, North Santiam, and Klickitat rivers for between $65 and $75 for a full day. Zoller's Outdoor Odysseys, Inc., 1248 Hwy. 141, White Salmon, WA (tel. 800/366-2004 or 509/493-2641; www.zooraft.com), offers trips on the White Salmon for $60.

If you already have some rafting experience and just want to rent a raft for the easy Class 1-plus rapids on the lower Sandy River (between Oxbow Park and Dabney Park), contact River Trails, 336 E Columbia River Hwy., Troutdale (tel. 503/667-1964), which charges $50 per day for a four-person raft.